Cancer

I love graduation. It is that culminating moment when all of the blood, sweat, tears, anger, laughers, failure and successes pay off. It doesn't matter how much grief a student has given me over the years, seeing him or her walk a stage and receive a diploma makes all of the pain worth it. My … Continue reading A Tiny Graduation with a Big Heart

Cancer sucks. Chemo sucks. But you know what sucks even more is the fact that with cancer and chemo come restrictions. Yep, that's right. Not only is your life one big ball of uncertainty and you are being poisoned from the inside out, but you can't even have freaking sushi to make it all better. … Continue reading Sushi Night

One of the first Uruguayan singers I listened to was Jorge Drexler. He was introduced to me by my friend Camilo back when we were trying to do Spanish and English exchanges. Then when I decided I needed to pretty much go back to the basics and enrolled in my Spanish emersion class, he was … Continue reading Jorge Drexler

I think there is this preconceived notion that once the last chemo is over, life begins again. For me, that was partly true. I was able to drink and eat real things again. I didn’t have to sanitize my hands and my desks after every student sneezed. I could go on weekend trips with friends … Continue reading It’s Been A While

I think I have been putting this one off because I know that as I write it I will be crying. And I have already started. November 14th at 6:45pm I was officially diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. There was no crying. No screaming. Just numb acceptance. This was the official results day of the PET … Continue reading I’ll Love You Forever

What do you do when your blood work comes back normal and you can finally drink alcohol again? You celebrate! Salud! My friend Robert asked what I was going to do the day I could finally drink. Have a party, obviously. And that is when he coined Kim-O de Mayo. May 9th was my last … Continue reading Kim-O de Mayo

Fun fact, when chemo is over, hell is not. We have all learned in the process that chemo kills cells, good and bad ones. The bad ones are the kill you kind, but the good ones keep you healthy and defensive. White blood cells are the little fighters of all the crazy germs that end … Continue reading Shots, shots, shots, shots

What do all of the UAS teachers and students do for the English teacher the Monday after she finishes her last chemo? They all take off their shoes, put on some really silly socks, and wear some wigs. Then they come in all day bringing memes about finishing chemo and "take that" cancer cards and … Continue reading Silly Socks and Wigs

The day I was diagnosed and told it would be six months and 12 treatments of chemo, I told myself "you can do anything for six months." And I did. I battled and fought and clenched my teeth for six months. I smiled and put on silly wigs. I answered a million questions about how … Continue reading The Days after Chemo Number 12

That's it. We are done. I know there should be this grand celebration, fireworks of emotions. But to be honest, I am just too tired. Just give me a week and the fireworks will come out. I have watched my mother's cut-out paper numbers dwindle down. And despite the fact that 59 followed 60, 29 … Continue reading Chemotherapy Treatment Number 12